Natalie

~~~

"So you're a king? Like with a big crown and everything?" I ask. Thranduil, king of the forest my parents call him, chuckles.

"Yes little one a crown and all that. I didn't bring it with me because I'm on vacation from being king," he replies. I tilt my head confused.

"Kings can take vacation days?"

"Of course they can. You just need to leave someone responsible in charge," he says.

"I see. Then your wife, Eleni, she's a queen," I conclude.

"Yes a very beautiful one too don't you agree?" he inquires with a grin. I nod rapidly. Eleni is pretty and nice.

~~~

"Thranduil I have a proposition for you," I announce strolling into the barn. Mama told me not to walk in unannounced but I need to make a point.

"Yes little Natalie?" Thranduil says sticking his head out from the loft.

"I would like to be your advisor. I'm smart, logical, and good at negotiations," I boast. I hear a giggle from the loft. That must be Eleni.

"Sure you can be my advisor little one. You just need to get a little older," Thranduil agrees and I beam.

"Good. I'll go start studying more now," I state and walk purposefully out.

~~~

"So little one you wish to be my advisor. There are certain things you must know in that case," Thranduil muses the afternoon after my proposal. We sit playing chess and I'm winning.

"Yes like your laws on marriage, soulmates, equality, consequences to crimes, your political friends and enemies, as well as many other critical things to how you run your kingdom," I rattle off. "So tell me."

"You're very intelligent for a young hobbit aren't you?" Thranduil chuckles and I stare at him blankly. He clears his throat and smiles sheepishly. "Right then. Our laws are old I admit. We have marriage allowed between any two people but if they aren't soulmates there is a long process to go through. Our laws on equality have been made new since the Bloodlust family has finally been taken down."

"Who was the Bloodlust family?"

"A radical family that went on murder sprees against dark haired and dark eyes elves. They were destroyed mysteriously by a large wolf animal. They had two daughters one they killed because she was dark haired and dark eyes the other I rescued. She now works as my assassin in the guard," Thranduil explains and I nod in understanding.

"So that means all are equal now?" I ask and he nods. "Good. Now continue."

"Soulmates are bound to each other if both bear each other's names-"

"What?! They are a million loopholes in that law! What about name carving?" I snap and Thranduil blanches. All hobbits learn about caving at a young age so we can prevent it.

"I am aware of the loopholes. I have sat through many trials where the carver won because of the loophole. It's something I've been trying hard to fix."

"Are you aware just how bad a carved soulmate bond is? The carver, who bears some cheap tattoo with the name of his target, taking a knife to his victim and binding then together is awful. The carver gets stronger while the victim withers and cannot leave. You must make that illegal and the punishment severe!" I exclaim banging a fist on the table. "The carver must die so the bond is broken and the victim go free." Thranduil stares a bit shocked before nodding. He must find it surprising that I would make execution a punishment.

"That sounds agreeable."

"This law must be passed soon. Now go on tell me more."

"Most consequences are varying times spent in jail, some are fines, and others house arrest."

"Sounds fair I will review it in detail when I go to your kingdom. Tell me about your allies and your enemies."

"Our allies are Elrond of Rivendall, Galadriel of Lothlorien, the dwarves of Erebor, and Gandalf the grey. We have no enemies except the orcs and their dark creatures of this world," Thranduil states coolly.

"Hmm I see. I'll read some books and get back to you then."

~~~

"So you and Thranduil are soulmates?" I question Eleni. She asked for me to show her around the Shire so I took her on the pathway to Bag End.

"Yes we are. I love him very much," Eleni replies nonchalantly. She steps gracefully with a friendly opening aura about her.

"I wonder how my soulmate is. His name is Smaug I haven't met him yet. He's not a hobbit. If he was his name would be in hobbitish," I explain with a shrug.

"I'm sure he's fine. What is hobbitish?" Eleni inquiries with a raised eyebrow.

"It's a secret hobbit language. It was designed by the elders a long time ago as a way to make sure hobbits stayed with hobbits. If someone outside of our race had a soulmate who was a hobbit they wouldn't be able to find them. Hobbits are very reclusive creatures you know," I answer with a shrug.

"Sounds to me like the elders were cranky old hobbits who hate change," Eleni remarks and I giggle.

"Yeah they were."

~~~

"I'm sorry honey but you'll see them again. You're going to be their advisor as soon as you come of age," mom comforts. I teared up a bit after Thranduil and Eleni left. Thranduil gave me a green jeweled necklace so I'd remember that I have a home in Greenwood.

"I know but that's a while off," I grumble and let her hug me.

~~~

"I love you. But we're done with. I can't trust you," I say to Freud. He's been my boyfriend for a few months. We got together after I started secondary school. Him, being a jerk, cheated on me.

"Natalie I'm so-"

"No! Don't you ever speak to me again liar!"

~~~

"Natalie in Bree who did you talk to?" mom tersely whispers. She suddenly ran into my room looking scared and grabbed my arms. Dad follows her in slamming the curtains closed.

"Just the bartender and maybe the waiter," I answer. The bartender was kind but the waiter kind of shifty. We just got back from our vacation in Bree.

"What did you say to them?!" my dad demands.

"Why? What's going on?" I ask. "Why are you acting so weird?"

"Natalie did you mention your soulmates name?" mom presses.

"Oh yeah I did. I asked the waiter if he knew anyone named Smaug," I respond. "Why?"

"Oh no. Oh no," dad utters.

"Natalie you can't say that. Your soulmate is a very well known evil dragon! Now very bad people are coming to take you!" mom exclaims frantically.

"What?!" I cry out in shock. A dragon!? But I am a hobbit.

"Jen we have to hide her," dad whispers.

Suddenly I hear a loud bang and glass shattering.

"We're too late," mom sighs sadly.

More banging follows and shouting. Rocks come though my room window along with torches. Fire catches and mom grabs my arm. Dad leaves my room first and my mom follows dragging me out of the flaming room. The shock is numbing.

"Mom! Dad! Why are they doing this!?" I scream when an arrow flys by my ear. The house is hot and smoke is everywhere. Adrenaline flushes through my veins shutting off my fear.

"Jen! Jen get Natalie and go! They're c-" an arrow suddenly shoots into dads throat ending his warning. I screech and back into a wall. Flames are enveloping the house and arrows flying. Smoke and tears cloud my vision making it almost impossible to see the attackers.

"RUN NATALIE RUN! Find Gandalf and don't look back!" mom shouts as the flames envelope her. Dad lays dead by her feet. I shout out and dash out just as my mother dies. I run and run out of the house and tear into the forest.

Once behind the tree line I pass out.

~~~

I wake up with a jolt. I sit straight up and look around. I lie on a forest floor with tall trees all around. My clothes are burnt and bruises on my arms and legs.

Where am I?

Wait who am I?

I don't know anything. Except my name it's Natalie I know that.

On an instinct that I'm not sure where it came from I tug on the necklace on my neck.

Abruptly an elf rushes up to me.

"Natalie? What are you doing here so soon? Why are you hurt? What happened?" a very tall elf with long ice hair asks. He cowers before me riding atop a larger than life elk.

"I don't know. Who are you? How'd I get here?" His eyes widen in surprise and he hops off the moose.

"I am Thranduil. You are in Greenwood and we are friends. Come with me I shall get you healing." I take the mans hand and he guides me to his kingdom.